Otter charity announces new rescue boat

The charity said the new boat would help the team respond faster and more safely to cub rescues

An animal rescue charity based in Devon has announced the addition of a new boat to its rescue fleet.

The boat will help the UK Wild Otter Trust team, based in north Devon, respond faster to cub rescues, the charity said.

It will also mean staff are able to reach cubs stuck in areas only accessible by water, and ensure safer rescues for both the animals and the team.

The charity rehabilitates injured and orphaned otter at its centre, before releasing them back into the wild.

Dave Webb founded the UK Wild Otter Trust in 1998

The new boat, supplied by Devon company Otter Boats, was funded by donations by supporters.

Dave Webb, the charity's founder and CEO, said it was a "game-changer" for the charity.

He said: "We've had cases where cubs are stranded in waterlogged areas and we just can't get to them without a boat. And I'm not a fan of getting wet!

"This boat will make a huge difference when we need to get to them fast, and will hopefully see even more cubs saved each year."

The charity, which started out as a hut in founder Dave Webb's garden, was founded in 1998, and became an officially registered charity in 2016.

The rehabilitation centre is now set in two acres with 19 enclosures, two cub rooms, a cub hospital and treatment room.